FE Pollard Primary pupil reportedly hospitalised, others fall ill after eating spoilt breakfast at school
T h e M i n i s t r y o f
Education has come under fire over claims by parents and teachers of the FE Pollard Primary School, about the poor quality of meals being served to pupils of grades five and six, under the national school feeding programme.
Kaieteur News was informed that several pupils fell ill on Thursday morning with at least one being rushedtothehospitalafterhe vomited and fainted shortly after consuming the breakfastprovided.
Zoya Hamer, the parent of the 10-year-old boy who was taken to the hospital to this newspaper that she was at work around 11:00hrs on Thursday when she received a call from the school informing her that her son wasunwell.
“When the teacher called me,shesaidthatmysonfaint and they called an ambulance. So I was like what? So, I leave work and head over to the school,” Hamershared.
She said that when she got there, the ambulance had not yet arrived at the school. Shehoweversawherchildin the school’s office being taken care of by a teacher who was applying Limacol tohishead.
vomit so many times and in the process of vomiting he fainted,” she told this publication.
When the ambulance did notshowup,Hamersaidshe, along with his class teacher took him to a city hospital.
“When I go in, my son was not responding. They said he is not walking or standing up and I was made to understand that he consumedthemealsthatwas provided by the Ministry of Education, and him along withseveralotherchildrenin the class vomit. And he
“So, what the doctor said, because of the constant vomiting that he did, it weakenhissystemandthatis what lead to him fainting. They run several tests and from what they said it was gastritis and they said that would have been because of the meal that he would have consume and it was contaminated,” Hamer explained.
The mother noted that her son was discharged from
the hospital on Thursday n i g h t a n d i s h o m e recovering Hamer also made it clear that her child neverlefthomethatmorning feelingunwell.
Concerned that her son’s case could have been worse, Hamerrelayedthatthisisnot the first time the issue of meals has been raised. She notedthatsimilarcasesinthe past which she said were raised with the headteacher, butwereneveraddressed.
The meal in questioned was boiled and fried channa, and from a picture seen by this publication the meal visibly did not look freshly cooked.
Anotherparent,speaking with Kaieteur News
explained that her daughter who is in grade five, and her son in grade six both received the ministry’s meals.
“Whenhecamehome,he started getting fever and saying his stomach and belly hurting. So, I figure that that wasthecause.Hesaidhedid noteatmuch,justaboutthree spoons and when the teacher realised, she told them to dumpit,”theparentshared.
T h e p a r e n t a l s o confirmed that Thursday’s incident was an isolated one.
“Like two weeks ago, they h a d p u r i f r o m t h e programme and both my childrenbroughtithomeand whenItakeitoutitwasstink, completely stink,” she recalled.
Two other parents also shared similar instances where they described the quality of the meals and that their children complained of feelingunwellaftereating.
Requesting anonymity, several teachers reported on Friday that on a number occasions they, along with parents,metwiththe
Continued on page 8
The boiled and fried channa which was served to pupils at FE Pollard Primary School on Thursday morning.
Justice Gino Persaud on Friday tossed out several bids by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) to seize vehicles by prominent businessman turned politician Azruddin Mohamed, over his alleged evasion of billions in worth inimporttaxes.
The judge ruled that ‘the application filed on November 5, 2025’ by GRA was ‘an abuse of the court’s process’.
In that application the GRA sought to tell the court that the extradition request for Azruddin Mohamed was ‘directly relevant to the substantive judicial review proceedings The judge however disagreed and ruled that the request was irrelevant as the judicial review proceedings filed by Mohamed was focused solely on whether or not the imposition of taxes of $421,057,712 and the demand for the surrender of thevehicleswaslawful.
The judge was also critical of the continuous filing of applications by the revenue body when ruling was set to be delivered in the matter since October The judge also threw out an application filed on June 10, 2025 by the GRAto suspend the proceedings until the criminal charges were dismissed. There again, the GRA claimed that the criminal charges had to be resolved first or else Justice Persaud was at risk of making ‘inconsistent judgements.’
The GRA sought to file no less than five affidavits in defence, each on different dates in response to the single affidavit filed by attorneys Siand Dhurjon and Damien Da Silva and the
...tells agency to stop abusing the Court ...GRA to appeal ruling
judge ruled that the civil procedure rules do not contemplate the filing of so many affidavits in such manner
Justice Persaud relied on a number of local cases which were cited by counsel for Azruddin Mohamed and ruled that the GRA had no power to embark on postclearance assessments He ruled that once a good was entered, cleared and the taxes paid thereon, the GRA had no legislative support or power to re-assess new taxes undertheCustomsActorthe Fifth Schedule made under that Act Justice Persaud ruled that in any event, the GRA could not have any right or remedy to further taxes until or unless Azruddin Mohamed was f o u n d g u i l t y o f corresponding offences by a criminalcourt.
Justice Persaud then proceeded to grant all of the orders prayed for by attorneys Siand Dhurjon and Damien Da Silva on behalf of Azruddin Mohamed JusticePersaudordered: Declaration that the respondents’ impositions of taxes on the applicant in the sums of $371,775,168, $ 2 4 , 6 4 1 , 2 7 2 a n d $24,641,272inrespectofthe applicant’s one 2020 LamborghiniAventador SVJ Roadster PZZ 4000, one 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser PAB 3000 and one 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser PAB 4000 and respectively altogether amounting to $421,057,712 are arbitrary, ultra vires the Customs Act,
Cap 82:01, unreasonable, unfairandunlawful;
An Order of Certiorari to quash the respondents’ impositions of taxes on the applicant in the sums of $24,641,272, $24,641,272 and $371,775,168 in respect of the aforesaid three veh
ly altogether amounting to $421,057,712
An Order of Certiorari to quash the respondents’ requirementfortheapplicant to present or surrender the aforesaid three vehicles to the Law Enforcement and Investigative Division of the RevenueAuthority; T
y granted is hereby varied as follows their respondents, their agents and their
y restrained from seizing the applicant’s 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser PAB 3000, 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser PAB 4000 and
LamborghiniAventador SVJ RoadsterPZZ4000;
orderedtheGRAtopaycosts of $750,000 to Mr Azruddin Mohamed on or before 31st December,2025.
C o u n s e l f o r M r Mohamed in an invited comment remarked that they are deeply satisfied with “a most considered and strong ruling from the high court JudgeJusticeGinoPersaud”. Noting that the proceedings
were delayed and protected as far as possible by the over 10 attorneys retained by the GRA. Two separate appeals were filed, one of which was fully heard and determined by Justices Roxane George and Nareshwar Harnanan in May,2025.
Dhurjon noted that the GRA still owes Mr Mohamed $300,000 as orderedbythefullcourt.The GRA was represented by several specially retained attorneys including: Anand Ramlogan SC, Robin Stoby SC, Sanjeev Datad
n, Mohanie Angaloo, Maritha Halley, Judy Stuart, Jason Moore, Fiona Hamilton, Ornise Gordon and Nicklin B e l g r a v e A z r u d d i n Mohamed was represented by attorneys Siand Dhurjon andDamienDaSilva. This decision represents what is believed to be the largest amount of taxes quashed by a Court in the historyofGuyana.
The Ministry of Education's new Anti-Bullying andAnti-ViolenceReportingSystemrepresents a long-overdue and welcome step toward addressing one of the most troubling social issues in our schools.
Fortoolong,thisproblemhasbeenallowedtofesterin classrooms,corridors,andplaygrounds,oftendismissedas a “normal” part of growing up. It is not. Bullying leaves deep emotional scars, destroys self-esteem, and in some cases, pushes young people into despair, depression, and evensuicide.
The launch of this new digital reporting system, unveiled by Education Minister Sonia Parag at theArthur Chung Conference Centre last Sunday, signals that the governmentisfinallytakingthisproblemseriously Italso reflects a broader recognition that school safety must go beyondfencesandguards;itmustextendtotheemotional andpsychologicalwellbeingofstudents.
Minister Parag was clear in her message— the government is adopting a zero-tolerance approach to bullying. The new platform allows students, parents, and teachers to report incidents of harassment confidentially, ensuring that victims can seek help without fear of retaliation. This is an important development. Many children suffer in silence because they are afraid to speak up, believing that doing so will make things worse. Providing a safe, private, and accessible channel for reportingabuseisthereforeavitalfirststepinbreakingthe cultureofsilenceandshamethatoftensurroundsbullying. Whatisparticularlyencouragingaboutthisinitiativeis itsmulti-ministerialsupport.
The Ministries of Education, Human Services, Home Affairs, and Legal Affairs have all committed to a joint approach, including the establishment of a national task forceandthesigningofaMemorandumofUnderstanding to ensure consistent implementation. This is precisely the kind of coordinated, multi-sectoral effort that complex socialproblemsdemand.AsHumanServicesMinisterDr VindhyaPersaudrightlynoted,tacklingbullyingcannotbe the responsibility of one ministry alone; it requires community-wideengagement,includingparents,teachers, socialworkers,andlawenforcementofficers.
TheinclusionofHumanServicesandHomeAffairsis especially significant. Bullying is not only an education issue, it is a social one. Many of the behaviours we see in schoolsarereflectionsofwhatchildrenexperienceathome or in their communities. Violence, aggression, and disrespect are often learned behaviours Therefore, interventions must address not just the symptoms but also therootcauses.
Minister Persaud's remarks highlighted ongoing work by the Childcare and Protection Agency, the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Unit, and other social supportdepartments,allofwhichhavevitalrolestoplayin shapingchildren'sbehaviouraldevelopment. This initiative also comes at a time when bullying has evolvedbeyondthephysicalclassroom.
The rise of social media has introduced new forms of harassment: cyberbullying, online shaming, and digital intimidationthatcanfollowchildrenwherevertheygo.As HomeAffairs Minister Oneidge Walrond pointed out, the urgency to confront bullying has grown with its digital reach The effects of online harassment are often devastating and long-lasting, and they require both awareness and modern solutions. The government's proposal to introduce Moral and Civic Education into the school curriculum is another positive move It acknowledges that preventing bullying is not just about punishment or policy enforcement, but about shaping characterandvaluesfromanearlyage.Teachingempathy, respect, and conflict resolution can go a long way in building a culture of kindness and tolerance among students.
However, while this initiative deserves full commendation, it must not stop at the launch stage. Too
The People Deserve Honesty on the Mohameds Extradition Matter
DearEditor,
As a citizen and activist of the United Workers Party, I have been following the developments surroundingtheextraditionproceedings involvingNazar“Shell”Mohamedand his son, Azruddin Mohamed. What concerns me most is not just the case itself,buttheconflictingstoriescoming from our own Government and the UnitedStatesEmbassyinGeorgetown.
TheU.S.Embassyhasmadeitclear that “the attorneys appearing in the Guyanese extradition proceedings of Nazar and Azruddin Mohamed are retainedbytheGovernmentofGuyana
and not by the U.S. Government.” In simpleterms,itisourGovernment,not the U.S.- that hired and is paying these lawyers.
Yet, the impression given to the public by the authorities in Guyana is quite different. The way it has been presented suggests that the attorneys wererepresentingtheUnitedStatesand thatGuyanawasmerelyfacilitatingthe process.NowthattheU.S.Embassyhas spoken, we are left with serious questionsthatdeservehonestanswers.
Iftheselawyersarebeingpaidwith publicfunds,thenthepeopleofGuyana have a right to know who authorized
this, under what arrangement, and why itwasnecessaryforourGovernmentto carry that cost. Transparency should neverbeoptional. I say this not in anger, but with genuine concern. When leaders speak withconflictingvoices,thepeoplelose trust. And once trust is lost, it is very hard to rebuild.We deserve clarity We deservehonesty Becauseintheend,it's notaboutpolitics,it'saboutthetruthand thepeople'srighttoit.
Respectfully,
Lorenzo
Joseph UnitedWorkersPartyActivist Region10
Brickdam Cathedral Centenary of Opening
DearEditor,
The Cathedral of the Immaculate ConceptiononBrickdamwillcelebrate 100yearssinceitwasopenedbyBishop Compton Theodore Galton in December1925.
This ended over 10 years of construction by the British company, ConsidereConstruction.
The Cathedral was designed by Sir Leonard Stokes who was President of
theRoyalSocietyofBritishArchitects. It is of Romanesque design of the twelfthcentury
A Festival of Trees will be held in the Cathedral on the 17 and 18 November 2025. Church groups have invited to display trees in addition to professionalpersons.
Theeventwillbeopenfrom9:00am to 5:00pm each day. This is the first event of this kind to be held in Guyana
Vending is a way of life for many and arrangements must be found to accommodate them
DearEditor,
It was pleasing to see the Vreed-en-Hoop vendors were given some reprieve (Christmas lifeline) and can remain at the location at least during the Christmas season (KN Nov 13). Good sense has prevailed.
For several days recently, there have been reports of vendors plying their trade on the roadside, in various locations on the west side, receiving three days notice to vacate the respective locations, with, it is claimed, no alternative arrangements putinplaceonrelocation.
Threedaysnotice!
Vendors were quite rightly up in arms with the notice as they had invested heavily and stock up for the Christmas season.Wherearetheytogoto plytheirtradewasthequestion on everyone's mind The sudden, it seems, three days
notice to pack up and leave with no alternative arrangementsofferedforthese persons to continue their livelihood, was not only insensitive but reminiscent of that other closure, not so long ago, which displaced thousands with no alternative arrangementsputinplace.
InthecaseoftheVreed-enHooplifelineitwasreportedof chaos, finger pointing and the usual blame game which followswhenatangledwebis weaved.
Itishopedvendorsinother communities faced with the dilemma will also see good sense prevailing and they too aregivenalifeline. Attheend arrangements must be put in place to accommodate these persons, since vending is here to stay and a way of life for many
Regards
ShamshunMohamed
manywell-intentionedprogrammeshavewitheredduetolack offollow-up,inadequateresources,orpoorcoordination.The government must ensure that this anti-bullying effort blossoms into a sustained national campaign — one that is visible,well-resourced,andcontinuouslyevaluated.Schools should have trained counsellors, clear disciplinary frameworks, and active monitoring systems. Teachers and administrators must be equipped to recognize signs of bullyingearlyandrespondappropriately
Thatshiftbeginsathome.Parentsmustmodelrespectand empathy in their own behaviour, teaching children that violence, intimidation, and ridicule are unacceptable in any form.Weasasocietymustalsorejecttheideathatbullyingis simplyachildhoodriteofpassage.Thereisnothing“normal”
and a fitting way to celebrate the centenary
There will be musical renditions duringthedaytoaddtotheatmosphere in the Cathedral.Admission is free but visitorscanmakeadonationinthebox providedtobeusedfortheupkeepofthe Cathedral.Allareinvited.
Inastatement,theNew Yo r k b a s e d n o ngovernment organization, Guyana Democracy Project, has condemned in the strongest words possible the deadly car blast near the Red Fort in New Delhi on Monday evening November 10 that claimed at least 13 lives and injured dozens of others as well as tens of millions in dollars of property The powerful blast was carried out by severalindividualstiedtoa radical religious group known for fomenting terrorism.
This terror attack against innocent civilians requires the strongest condemnation from everyone. There can be no justification for violence especially that kills or maims people without justification.
The GDP organization
expressed sadness that the tragic car blast in Delhi claimed precious lives, injured many, damaged property, and affected business.The organization said violence does not solve a problem and as such has no place in a society It writes :
“Heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayers for the victims including the swift recovery of the surviving injured”.
The GDP calls on the world to join in u n e q u i v o c a l l y condemning the terror attack. The world must standwithIndiainitsfight against terror. The GDP s t a n d s w i t h t h e government and people of India in its period of grief and pray for speedy recovery for the victims andaffectedfamilies.
Yourstruly, VishnuBisram
abouthumiliation,exclusion,orphysicalabuse.Everyactof bullying chips away at the moral fabric of our society, breedingresentmentandperpetuatingcyclesofviolencethat extendwellintoadulthood.
Thegovernment'santi-bullyinginitiative,withitsdigital reportingsystemandmulti-agencycollaboration,representsa hopeful turning point. It is a step toward safer schools and a morecompassionatenation.
But lasting change will depend on all of us — policymakers, teachers, parents, and students alike — committing to build a culture where respect is the norm and crueltyfindsnorefuge.
If this effort is pursued with persistence and sincerity, it could not only transform our schools but also help shape a generation of Guyanese who value empathy, fairness, and humanity Thatisthetruemeasureofeducation—notjustthe learningoffacts,butthecultivationofcharacter
“Forging Patriots, Building a Nation: Why Guyana Needs a New Military Corps of Engineers”
DearEditor,
As the solemn bugle of Remembrance Day resounds across the country, and the PresidentofGuyanalaidwreathsinhonorof those who gave their lives for our freedom, the nation pauses to reflect. Yet amid the ceremony and tribute, one is forced to confrontanuncomfortablequestion:canour armed forces truly defend the nation they commemorate?
Guyana's Defence Force, though disciplined and devoted, remains relatively small and under-resourced compared to the growing demands of a more complex national security environment Border tensions, natural disasters, and evolving developmentchallengesrevealatruthwecan nolongerignore—ourcountryneedsamore agile,technicallyskilled,andpatrioticcorps of young men and women ready to serve, protect,andbuild.
Military training is not a miracle, but it hastransformedcountlessyounglivesacross the world turning hopelessness into purpose, indiscipline into order, and weakness into strength Yet such transformation requires willingness. It calls for national vision. It demands leadership bold enough to redesign military service—not as a last resort for the jobless, but as a respected route to discipline, technicalmastery,andnationaldevelopment.
A strategic starting point could be the establishment of a Guyana Army Corps of Engineers—a hybrid unit where discipline meets development. This entity could train recruits in engineering, construction,
logistics, and disaster response skills essential not only to defense but to the country's broader progress. These trained servicemen and servicewomen could assist with national infrastructure projects, river defense systems, road construction, renewable energy installation, and emergency response during flooding or crises.
Such a model would also bolster patriotism. By blending civic service with military training, young Guyanese would find pride in both the uniform and the contribution it represents. It would be a tangible investment in youth empowerment, offering technical skills transferable to civilian life while preparing a disciplined reserve force to defend the nation when needed. To achieve this, we must rethink recruitment itself. Patriotism alone may not fill the ranks; opportunities in education, vocational advancement, and post-service recognition must be embedded into the enlistment drive. A mandatory national service initiative—carefully structured and respectful of democratic choice could reinvigorate civic commitment and ensure every Guyanese understands their role in national defense and development. Military training is not merely about combat. It is aboutcharacter Itisaboutunityinpurpose.If policymakers dare to see beyond uniforms and budgets, they might glimpse what so many veterans already know—that nationbuildingbeginswithdisciplineandskills.
Sincerely, HemduttKumar
GRA continues to lose track of taxpayers filed returns
DearEditor,
I wish to highlight an area of concern as it relates to the recurring difficulties faced by taxpayers due to apparent inefficiencies in the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) filing systems. There are multiple cases where GRAcontinues to lose track of taxpayers filed returns for various taxes(corporation,property, PAYEandVAT).
Theseincludereturnsfor both companies and individuals with the 'misplaced' returns only
becoming known as outstanding by the taxpayer when the GRA sends demand letters for said returnsorwhenthetaxpayer applies for a compliance only to be informed that the returns are apparently
outstanding Such inefficienciesfromtheGRA result in unnecessary and unfair stress, delays and costs to the taxpayers when theyhavefaithfullyfulfilled theirobligations.
There are numerous instances where demand
letters are sent for outstanding returns with the
GRAclaiming those returns as never filed; while the taxpayers have copies of those said returns filed and stamped as received by the GRA. In many cases, the Authority's staff are apathetic, providing little supporttothetaxpayerother thana'bringinthecopiesor fileagainstance'despitethis being as a result of the GRA's own inability for good record keeping Taxpayers being told that their returns "cannot be found" or "were not received" is troubling, especiallyatatimewhenthe GRA has been promoting improvementinitstaxpayer services.
Thattaxpayersarebeing subjected to repeated requests for returns already filedandwiththepossibility of penalties not only
DearEditor,
Recently, there was an announcement by the President of Guyana, that t h e r e w i l l b e t h e establishment of a railway system connecting the East Bank to the East Coast of Demerara.
This is a welcomed initiative,inthat,itisamajor infrastructural development that will transform the transportation system in this country, placing Guyana in that elite group of developingcountries.
Now, rail transport has enormousbenefits,ofwhich Ishallexplain:
1. First on our list of benefits, is the fact that railroad transportation eases the traffic congestion on our roadsinasignificantway
2. Itisacost-effective means of transport; it is the most cost-effective form of transport, it has a lower fuel consumption than road vehiculartraffic.
3. Rail transport is reliable, trains operate on fixed schedules and dedicated tracks, making them less susceptible to traffic jams and weather conditions,comparedtoroad
transport.
4. Transport by rail facilitates the movement of bulk transport which transport by road cannot.
Rail transportation moves volumes of cargo over long distances,ithastheabilityto move massive goods in a singlejourney
5. Itisthetrainandthe rails, no competition from other vehicular traffic
Railroad travel offers a relaxing and more comfortable means of transportationforthegeneral public.
6. Rail transport will, andIrepeat,willcutdown,if not eliminate the wanton vehicular accidents in our
transport system; rail travel is more safer than road transport.
To the naysayers who have already labelled this v e n t u r e a s b e i n g unsuccessful, should weigh in on the enormous benefits that will redound to the benefit of all, that is, to the government and people of Guyana.Ourcountryisonan upwardtrajectoryandoneof the ways that progress is enhancedisbyamodernand efficientrailwaysystem.My suggestion to the relevant authorities, is to extend that railroadsystemtoallregions ofourcountry
RespectfullySubmitted
NeilAdams
undermines the public's confidence in the GRA but also calls into question the record management of such animportantorganizationin Guyana.
The GRA and its personnel must recognize that it provides a public service and that taxpayers are its clients These unnecessary repeated requests, with little help from the Authority, is a cause of frustration for taxpayers and results in delays that have real c o n s e q u e n c e s f o r individuals and companies alike. Hopefully the GRA's first response would be to correct this repeating issue soon and not just seek to defenditssystem.
TheGuyanaRevenueAuthority reportedonFridaythatfouralleged smugglers have been arrested for attacking officers from its law enforcement and investigation division (LEID) during an intelligence driven enforcement operation in the vicinity of No. 61 Village,Berbice.
According to a statement from theagency,theincidentoccurredat approximately 04:00hrs on Thursday
GRA detailed that during the operation, customs enforcement officersinterceptedalargewooden motor vessel conveying a significantquantityofuncustomed goods including alcoholic beverages, and detained same along with the persons found on board.
“However,whilethevesseland itscontentswerebeingescortedtoa designatedfacilityinthevicinityof No 43 village, Berbice, for
processing, the officers were ambushed by a group of men who forcefully retrieved the vessel and seizeditems,”GRAreported.
The agency noted that swift action by ranks of the Guyana PoliceForceandtheCustomsAntiNarcoticUnitresultedinfourofthe perpetrators being arrested. GRA noted that these persons will face prosecutiontothefullextentofthe lawfortheiractions.
Meanwhile, GRA stated that
efforts are ongoing to locate the vesselanditscontents.
“The G
Authority(GRA)wishestoremind the public of its "zero tolerance" approachtosmugglingandanyone who attempts to import or export goods with intent to defraud the revenue authority of any duties is guiltyofanoffenceandisliableto penalties and/or imprisonment in accordancewithSection218ofthe Customs Act Chapter 82:01,” the agencyinformed. Further,therevenueauthorityis pleading with the public to report any illicit, unlawful or smuggling activities on telephone number 227-6060, extensions 3201, 3204, 3205, 3206, 3211, 3212, or 3408. All information provided will be dealtwithstrictconfidentialityand such persons may be rewarded in accordance with the provisions of the Customs Act, Chapter 82:01, theagencyaffirmed.
Promising Berbice offshore worker killed in road accident
T h e f a m i l y o f motorcyclist Daniel North, who died on Thursday following a vehicular accident, said he could have been saved had persons assistedingettinghimtothe hospital.
North, 22, of Islington, East Bank Berbice, tragically lost his life after hismotorcyclecollidedwith a car on the Stanleytown main access road in New Amsterdam,Berbice.
Police reports revealed that the motor car was proceeding north along the western driving lane of the public road while the motorcycle was travelling east along an access road located on the western side of the said public road. The car #PLL 6600 and the motorcycle #CL 1385 slammed into each other at theintersectionoftheaccess road and the Stanleytown PublicRoad.
North sustained severe
injuries as a result of the impact and died while receiving treatment at the NewAmsterdamHospital.
The car was driven by a 56-year-old male of
Lancaster Village, Corentynewhoisalsobeing treated for injuries at the NewAmsterdamHospital.
Debbie North, sister of the deceased, told Kaieteur News that she was on her way home from work when she received a call from a neighbourinformingherthat her brother was involved in anaccident.Shethenrushed to the hospital where her brother was admitted as an accident and emergency case.
“From what I observed, his head was swollen, so I said he probably had cranial pressure. (There were) cuts and bruises on his legs…very severe, and he was unconscious the doctor said, but he was gasping for air,” she related to Kaieteur
FE Pollard Primary pupil...
Frompage2 headteacher and the caterer about the standard of the meals being served. They claimed their complaints alwaysfallondeafears.
“The channa seemed as though it was prepared for a very long time. The children aregettingsubstandardmeals every single day,” one of the teachersrelated.
Worried about the health risks,parentsandteachersare calling for the issue to be properly investigated by the ministry and addressed with urgency Parents even stated that they would encourage their children not to eat the meals until the issue is addressed.
Meanwhile,inastatement on Friday, Minister of Education, Sonia Parag said the ministry is currently conducting a full review of the national school feeding programmetoensurethatthe nutritional needs of learners are met, and that the programmecontinuestohave an even more profound impact on the lives of school childrenandtheirfamiliesall acrossthecountry
“Assuming office in September, I had a sit down withtheschoolfeedingunitto ascertainthedailyoperations of the programme and how we can improve it to create the impact that we want,” Paragsaid.
She noted that the education ministry has been working with the Carnegie School of Home Economics to review the menu and
...family distraught bystanders failed to render immediate assistance
The ministry said members of the public who have complaints and concerns regarding the programme can reach out by scanning the information.
improve its nutritional output.
“In the meantime, complaints raised in the public and via social media will all be investigated, and addressed with urgency and fairness The Ministry of Educationispreparedtowork withthosewhoarewillingto meet the standards set out. Therewillbenocompromise whenitcomestoensuringthe health and well-being of our children,” the statement noted.
Moreover, headteachers are reminded of their responsibility to report any issues with the programme urgently to the ministry, and their function as an added levelofsupervision,toensure itscontinuedsuccess.
News.
Despite the doctors best attempts to save him, the ExxonMobil Guyana employee succumbed to his injuries. He was on his 28daybreakandwasscheduled toreturntoworkoffshoreon November24.
His sister is even more distraughtthatmanypersons whowereonthesceneopted to take out their mobile devices to video record the tragedy rather than treat the situationasanemergency
She believes that her brother could have survived ifhewastakentothehospital immediately The doctors explained that he had sufferedrespiratorydistress, as he was instead left in the trench for an extensive period.
“After the head-on collision, from what I was told, he ended up in the trench so the water got into his lungs, and the water is mixed what mud and whatever He wasn't
breathing on his own, they hadhimonlifemachine.”
Her theory was backed bypolice,shesaid.
“The police spoke to me andthepolicesaidthatdueto the fact that he was in the trench for so long, and the bystanderswerejustoutwith their phones recording, had hebeentakenout,atleastthe waterwouldnothavegotten into his lungs and he could have been saved,” she stressed.
The grieving sister
lamented the absence of quick thinking, which, if demonstrated, could have kepttheyoungestofherfour
(Continuedonpage8)
Dead: Daniel North
The two hurdles the government must cross
In my opinion, to extradite a citizen from Guyana to the United States, at least two criticallegalthresholdsmust be met. These are, in my estimation, not mere technicalities;theygotothe heart of the rule of law and t h e p r o t e c t i o n o f constitutionalrights.
Extraditionlaw,properly understood, requires the government to ensure that the request is backed by a prima facie case, that is, enough evidence that, if uncontradicted, would be sufficient to sustain a conviction were the matter triedlocally
The key question, therefore, is this: Has a prima facie case been made out? In extradition law, the requestingstatemustsupply prima facie evidence of the c onduct alleged. It does n othavetoproveitscase
The first is that a prima facie case must be established.This means that there must be sufficient evidencetowarrantaperson being sent abroad to face trial. The second is that the offence for which extraditionissoughtmustbe acrimeinbothjurisdictions, the principle known as dual criminality These two conditions form the foundationofanylegitimate extraditionprocess. Whileextraditionisnota criminal trial, it is not an administrative rubber stamp either It is a process governed by law A request fromaforeignpowercannot automatically trigger the surrenderofacitizen.Before extradition can proceed, boththegovernmentandthe courts must be satisfied that the evidentiary and legal requirementshavebeenmet. Theremustbedueprocess. The government cannot treat extradition as a mere procedural convenience A citizen of Guyana, even one accused of serious offences abroad, does not forfeit constitutional protection merely because the request comes with diplomatic formality
just provide prima facie evidenceofit.Thisbringsus squarely to the ongoing debate surrounding the U.S. extradition requests involving the Mohameds. Based upon the indictments in the U S courts, the Mohameds are accused of committing inter alia mail fraud,wirefraud,andmoney laundering, supposedly connected to the use of criminal proceeds from the smuggling of gold out of Guyana.
It appears that the predicate conduct is the allegedillegalexportationof gold, while the derivative conduct is the subsequent use or concealment of the proceedsinwaysthatviolate U.S.financiallaws.
But herein lies a legal dilemma The predicate offence—the smuggling of gold is said to have occurredinGuyana.Without the predicate offence, there canbenoderivativeoffence, because the latter depends upon the existence of the former The U S case
DEM BOYS SEH
If yuh nah gon zone de city, zone yuh Ministries!
If de government ain’t keen on bringing back zoning to Georgetown, then de least it could do is zone itself! Because right now, the city looking like a mash-up between a car park,amarket,andamaze.Andeverybody trying to find one lil’parking spot like it’s goldintheinterior
Every morning, half de country descend pon de city like locusts.Workers, vendors, taxi drivers, people doing lil’ business at GRA, people trying to renew onelicenceorcollectoneformanddroves of school children And when dem done, everybodytrappedintrafficlongenoughto finishoneseriesonNetflix.
You see, the government not touching zoning because that gon’ upset de bourgeois class — them big ones who got their fancy offices and businesses in residential areas. Zoning gon’mean rules, andrulesgon’meansomepeoplecan’tset upshopwherevertheylike.Sozoningdead andburied,rightnexttothedrainageplan. But if we can’t zone de city, at least zone some of dem ministries! Move de
Ministry of Agriculture somewhere near where crops actually grow Why it deh in the middle of concrete jungle when de nearestcassavaplantdehfaraway?
Then there’s the Ministry of Tourism, IndustryandCommerceparkedonastreet that is already crammed with offices and businesses.That ministry need to move to better headquarters where there is better parkingandmorespaceforstaff.
Andlehwetalk‘boutHumanServices.
Relocate that out the city too. Let the people who helping humans get a lil’ breathing space themselves!As for GRA, Camp Street can finally breathe if half of demoperationsgoneelsewhere.
So,ifdegovernmentnahwanttozone thecitybecauseitmightinconveniencethe elite, then zone yuhself, nah! Move out someofdemministries,easeupthechaos, and let the rest of we finally see what the city pavement and easy parking look like again.
Andifthatain’twuk,movethecityout ofthecityitself!
Talkhalf.Leffhalf.
presupposes that gold was illegally exported from Guyana, generating proceeds that were later laundered or used in fraudulent transactions. Yet, the Mohameds have never been charged, much less convicted, of gold smugglinginGuyana.
T h i s r a i s e s a fundamental question: On what basis can a court in Guyana accept that gold smuggling occurred, if that alleged conduct has never been established by any court within its own jurisdiction?
Can a Guyanese citizen be extradited to face prosecution abroad for a derivative offence that dependsonapredicatecrime that no Guyanese court has everfoundtoexist?
If the answer to that question is uncertain, then the prima facie test is not satisfied. The courts cannot proceedonassumptions,nor can the executive act on diplomaticassurancesalone. Extradition must rest on evidence, not presumption. To extradite without a clear evidentiary basis for the predicate act would be to allow a foreign jurisdiction to exercise authority over conductthatoccurredwithin Guyana’s territory, thereby eroding the principle of territorial jurisdiction and
constitutionalsovereignty
The second legal conditionthatmustbemetis dual criminality This doctrine requires that the conduct alleged not the name of the offence—must amount to a criminal act in bothjurisdictions.
Theissueisnotwhether the offence carries the same title in both jurisdictions, or whether it has ever been prosecuted locally, but whether the conduct alleged would amount to a criminal offence if it had occurred in thiscountry
Therefore, if the U.S. requests extradition for “wire fraud,” the Guyanese court would examine whether the factual allegations correspond to a fraud-related offence under Guyaneselaw
If they do, extradition could still proceed — not because “wire fraud” is named, but because the underlying conduct constitutes a recognized crimeinGuyana.
What matters here is the substance of the act—the deceit,theconversion,orthe laundering of proceeds Under the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act (AML/CFT Act), Guyana criminalizes a wide range of conduct involving criminal proceeds. The
provisions of the Act are broad enough to cover the handling or use of criminal proceeds. So, in principle, dual criminality may be satisfied, since the underlying conduct of dealing with illicit funds is criminal under both Guyanese and U.S. law But the first condition remains farmoretroubling.
If the predicate offence, gold smuggling, has never been proven, then the very basis of the derivative offences (wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering) becomes shaky Without evidence of the crime that generated the proceeds, can there truly be a prima facie caseforlaunderingorfraud? Extradition must remain an actoflaw
The government of Guyana must therefore ask itself:Hasaprimafaciecase really been made out? If the answerisno,thentoproceed would offend constitutional dueprocess.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)
H@RD TRUTHS
BY GHK LALL
Gas station bombing suspects
I wrestle with three questions relative to developments in the Regent and King Streets gas station bombing The Guyana Police Force (GPF) presented seven suspects in the bombing that took one young life, damaged seven others. It's comforting that suspects are housed. But first, do the GPF have the rightpeople?
Do the GPF have all of them? Last, does this bombing go deeper than
what is shared with the nation? For sure, there is a need to withhold some intel to secure confidentiality, reserve for trail. But what Guyanese don't know can hurt them, particularly where every citizen has a newrole-beingaradar Ireadaboutamysterious unit with the even more mysteriousnameof“R”,and if that was their first salvo into the face of Guyana, it maybeanindicationthatthe imperilingcouldbeinstore.
Guyanahashelpintheform of INTERPOL, and that has tremendousutility Itwould be surprising if there were not American boots on the ground,andAmericanheads contributing their share of expertisetothechallengesat hand What definitely caught on the wrong foot was the news that three Guyaneseareallegedtohave ahandintheblastthatshook this country out its complacency It provided an ominous
warning to all citizens that the old Guyana is gone, and thatthereisanewGuyanain motion.
Everybody wants a delectablepieceofGuyana's treasures. There are some who covet its land, and its storehouses of riches. To thoseIwouldaddavisionto impairlocalfreedoms,andto reduce Guyanese to serfs. Truth be told, there is a schoolofthoughtthatinsists Guyanese already exist in a state of impaired freedoms. Speak to one's peril. Differ publiclywiththepowersthat are in control, and be ready forawar Then,thereisthe condition of the status of locals, which is tantamount tothatofserfs. Knowplace.
Mindmanners.
Hold peace Most citizens have surrendered to theirlot,awareoftheblanket of fear, and the negatives of being fingered as a marked man or woman. Plus, the consequences that could follow UnderthePPPGovt. therehasbeenpalpablefear; itsleadershipcadrestandsas an exhibit for insecurity, often irresponsibility, and more often ripe with malignity
None of those bode well for an outspoken citizen; or any Guyanese who actually uses his head to think or, worse still, think critically, thenspeakfrankly Hence, it is bewildering thattherearethreeGuyanese suspects among the seven charged with the gas station
bombing One Guyanese is one too many; three of them an alarming crowd
For what reason, t localtriocouldhavegoneto theextentthattheydid,with their names now forever linked with infamy? Let's remember a child is dead, and seven other Guyanese are trying to pick up the pieces from a terribly traumatizing ordeal. So, there is a severe shortage of sympathy for any of the seven bombers. I take the caretonotethattheyareonly alleged to have been the perps of the gas station bombing. The presumption of innocence must have broad, meaningful weight. Butthereisaheavierfuryat the three Guyanese who ended up being part of a conspiracy, and part of a nasty affair that led to a fatalityandinjuries. It could have been much worse, and where would Guyanese be now? Jumpy and shaky, and seeing an enemy in every nonGuyanese looking face?
What about fellow
What prompted three Guyanese toward such dastardlypartnering? Cash? Addiction? Grievance? Oil? Rebellion? Whatever isresponsible,it'sunhealthy It is why authentic national harmonytranscendsallelse. When Guyanese don't have that,theyhavenothing. Oil can't cure the disharmony Leadership dividing endangers more Three Guyanese nabbed. There maybemorearound.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the a u t h o r a n d d o n o t necessarily reflect the opinionofthisnewspaper.)
Guyanese, given that three locals are named as part of that deadly bomb squad? Who else is a collaborator? Who else in Guyana, and of Guyanese extraction (no mixed parentage or more than one homeland), could be lying low, and waiting to join arms with Venezuelans harboring criminal intent? Remember that charge repeatedly hurled against onepoliticalGuyanese. This is the worst news possible for me, and I am focusing exclusively on the perps,ascharged. Guyanais already so bitterly, helplessly, obscenely divided,andnowtherehasto belookingovertheshoulder, and treading carefully, determine who is a patriot and who is man or woman with perverse objectives. It is just too much for a polity thatissorich,butonethatis so poor at the same time regarding who is friend and ally, and who is a threat lurking under a rock, and waitingtoendanger
TutorialAcademycancels classesoverbeeplague
The Tutorial Academy Secondary School in New Amsterdam, Berbice Students and teachers of the Tutorial Academy Secondary School in New Amsterdam,Berbice,RegionSixwereforced to leave the institution earlier than usual on Fridayfollowingabeeinfestation.
In an address via its Facebook page, the school's administration updated parents and thegeneralpublicofthesituation. One teacher told Kaieteur News that students and staff were all sent home. She
disclosed that there were no reports of any attacks.
The school stated that the safety and wellbeing of its students and staff remain its top priority It is not yet known whether the situation was addressed or if class sessions willresumeinthenewweek.
“Further updates will be provided as the situation is assessed and addressed by the relevantauthorities,”theschoolstated.
PRODUCE OR PERISH!
- Pres.Ali threatens GuySuCo’s management over continued underperformance
The management of the Guyana Sugar Corporation hasagainbeenputonnotice that should it fail to raise its level of production; heads couldrollinthenewyear
The warning was issued by President IrfaanAli, who lamented the continued underperformance of the industry despite the sustainedinvestmentsbythe government.
“Let me be very clear: If the managers in GuySuCo can't deliver to us next year, from the investment we are puttinginGuySuCo,wewill have to find a new management system to give usthetypeofresultsthatwe are investing to get,” Ali stated.
He was at the time addressing the opening ceremonyofGuyExpo2025 at the Sophia Exhibition CentreThursdayevening.
Ali said “there is no shortcut. I want to be clear, we must get the results we areinvestingfor,wemustget the productivity we are investingforandwhilesugar isnotyetoutofthewoods,I amverypleasedtolearnofa partnershipthatwillseelocal and international investors
coming together and will invest in a sugar refinery here in Guyana and that project is earmarked to be announcedbeforetheendof thisyear.”
Guyana’s sugar industry has been making a downward spiral over time, withdatafrom2024andthis year showing massive declineinproductionoutput.
Accordingtodata,GuySuCo fell short of its 2024 and 2025 targets, producing just 47,103 tonnes in 2024 against a goal of 63,276 tonnes, despite over $45 billion in taxpayer subsidies since2020.
Theindustrycameunder heavycriticismlastweekby the APNU, for what the coalition said was ‘misleading propaganda’ in the Ministry of Finance’s half year report. Shadow Minister of Agriculture and APNU MPVinceroy Jordan dismissed the government’s claimsthattheindustrygrew byover100percent.
He said even with $13.3 billion in additional 2025 funding, first crop results continuethedecliningtrend, leaving the government’s ambitious modernisation
Factories remain inefficient, workers demoralised, and targets missed yet, no accountability has been enforced, the APNU said. Jordan warned, “The PPP muststopusingGuySuCoas a political tool Sugar workers and taxpayers deserve honesty, efficiency, and leadership — not empty speeches and broken promises.”
Hestressedthatthe2025 mid-yearreportissayingthat sugarexpandedby136.7per cent, when the facts tell a different story, one off failure, waste, and broken promises.
“Where the reporting is done in comparison to sugar produced on a previously failed target, and excludes sugar produced against the current set targets. The fact is, GuySuCo failed to reach its set target both years (2024-2025),” the MP highlighted.
a 21.85 per cent of the total production in comparison to 2023.
“Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha has been boasting about the progress at Rose Hall and Blairmont estatesearlyinMarchofthis year, but according to the 2025 Mid-Year Report, GuySuCo remains far behind its own ambitious targets.After more than $45 billion in taxpayer funding since 2020, the government has little to show for its socalled “revitalisation” efforts. In 2024, GuySuCo produced just 47,103 tonnes ofsugar,wellbelowitstarget of 63,276 tonnes,” the MP pointedout.
single head has rolled Instead,thesameexcusesare recycled year after year while billions more are wasted. The PPP must stop usingGuySuCoasapolitical tool to win sympathy and votes in sugar belt communities.”
President Irfaan Ali
now In 2024, Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha threatened a shakeup in management if the poor performance persisted.
He said further that the i n d
y t h e
24 contractedbyabout60.4per cent by mid last year and by theendoftheyeartherewas
Jordan noted that even thoughthegovernmenttalks about harvesters and automation, it cannot hide the truth, that the sugar industry under the PPP regimeissinkingdeeperinto d e p e n d e n c y a n d mismanagement He reminded that, “President Irfaan Ali had boldly declared that “heads will roll” if GuySuCo failed to meet its 2025 first crop targets.Well,thetargetshave beenmissedagain,andnota
Lamenting that the citizens deserve results and not propaganda, he stated thatuntilthegovernmentcan deliverrealimprovementsin productivity, accountability, and worker welfare, there is absolutely nothing to celebrate. In light of this, “The opposition will continue to hold the government accountable for every cent spent and every promise broken Sugar workers and taxpayers deserve honesty, efficiency, and leadership not empty speechesandfailedtargets,” heassured.
Government has been promising“headrolls”atthe GuySuCo for some time
Hehadtoldreportersata news conference that government would be very stringent as it sought to ensure GuySuCo perform the way it should. “…In the new year, we’ll see some changes in management of GuySuCo at various estates t h e y a r e a l r e a d y contemplating to move managers. Some managers willcomeoutofthesystem. So,theythemselves,without our intervention they themselves have looked to see to assign people in the area that they can perform better,” the minister had stated.
In December 2024, President Ali promised to fire the management of the sugar corporation, if set targetswerenotmet.
Sanitary landfill sites for coastal, interior regions
The Ministry of Local Government and Regional Developmentisseekingexpressionsofinterest(EOI)forthe development and/or management of sanitary landfill sites acrossthevariousadministrationregions.
Theministryinitsdocument,statedthattheGovernment of Guyana realises the tremendous importance of efficient, costeffectiveandenvironmentallyfriendlysolutionstotackle solidwastemanagementacrossthecountry
“The government recognises proper sanitation, and solid waste management is essential to society, business and the economy In this regard, the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development will be pursuing sustainable wastemanagementsoastoeliminatethenegativeeffectsthat improper waste management has on human health, social welfareandtheenvironment,”theministrysaid.
Sites are expected to be established in: Region One –Moruca, Port Kaituma and Matthew’s Ridge; Region Two –Zorg-En-Vlygt; Region Three – New Line, West Bank Demerara; Region Four - Lusignan, East Coast Demerara; Region Five Blairmont, West Coast Berbice; Region Six –Manarabisi,Corentyne,Berbice;RegionNine–BonSuccess; andRegionTen–Ituni.
The deadline for submission of EOIs is November 20, 2025totheMinistry’sFortStreet,Kingstonoffice.
ThelocalgovernmentministryheadedbyMinisterPriya Manickchand, has committed to enhancing national solid wastemanagementandensuringlandfilloperationsalignwith environmentalbestpractices.
During a high-level inter-agency meeting in September, Minister Manickchand, along with ministers and senior officials from across government agencies, held discussions centered on the identification of appropriate sites across the administrative regions for the establishment of sanitary landfills.
The ministry in a statement at the time, reported that careful consideration was given to several factors, including population density, land availability, accessibility, environmental impact, and the long-term sustainability of operations.Themeetingalsoassessedchallengeswithcurrent landfillpracticesandtheurgentneedformodernfacilitiesthat alignwithenvironmentalbestpractices.
MinisterManickchandemphasisedthateffectivelandfills are not simply about waste disposal, but about safeguarding public health, protecting natural resources, and enhancing communitywell-being.Sheunderscoredthattheprojectwill be pursued with urgency and cooperation from relevant agenciestoensureitssuccess.
Minister of Housing, Collin Croal at the meeting, noted thatasnewhousingschemesaredevelopedacrossthecountry, corresponding infrastructure must be put in place to support the growth of communities. He stressed that proper waste managementsystems,includingmodernlandfillfacilities,are essentialforhealthy,sustainablesettlements.
The collaborative initiative reflects the government’s broader vision of sustainable development, in which waste management is recognised as a core pillar of public health, urbanplanning,andenvironmentalprotection.
Further, the ministry noted that together with other key agencies,technicalassessmentsandstakeholderengagement in the coming months, these efforts will ensure landfill projects are advanced with efficiency and transparency, ultimately improving the quality of life across Guyana’s ten administrativeregions.
The landfill site at Haggs Bosch, East Bank Demerara.
Gas station bombing not connected to similar, previous attacks - Hicken
Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken, said the October 26 bombing of the Mobil Gas Station appears not to be linked to similar events that occurred earlier thisyear
He said based on the investigationsbytheGuyana Police Force (GPF), there is no motive that points in the direction of collaboration betweentheaccusedandthe other attacks The commissioner then assured that tighter measures have beenundertakenbythejoint services.
“We’verampedupallthe gaps that we have, and so now we have, as a giant servicewecanbetterbeable to protect our country,” he said during a media engagementonFriday
Asked whether a motive was determined for the gas station attack, Hicken relayedthathecouldnotsay at the time, as “the matter’s beforethecourt.”
ThreeGuyaneseandfour Venezuelans were further remanded on November 13, when they appeared at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court to face terrorism charges for the bombing of the Mobil Fuel Station on Regent and King Streets, whichclaimedthelifeofsixyear-old Soraya Bourne and injuredseveralothers.
AppearingbeforeActing Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty were the accused: 33-year-old Venezuelan
Daniel Alexander Ramirez Poedemo, 44-year-old Venezuelan Alexander Bettancourt, Venezuelan nationalKrystalLaCruz,and Guyanese national Johnny Boodram Prosecutors
Last week the suspects made their first appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court for the deadly attack. Poedemo faced a separate charge of committing an act of terrorism on October 26, with intent to threaten the sovereignty and security of Guyana or to strike terror among the population. He allegedly used an explosive device at the Mobil Fuel Station at Regent and King Streets, Lacytown, Georgetown. He was not requiredtoenterapleatothe
indictablecharge.
Bettancourt,LaCruz,and Boodram were jointly charged with aiding and abetting Poedemo in carrying out the bombing. They were also not required to enter pleas. All accused were remanded to prison, with the Guyanese defendantsmaintainingtheir innocence in the attack. All were unrepresented except Boodram.
Kaieteur News had reported that two of the Venezuelan suspects used a KFC food run as cover to scoutthesitebeforecarrying outtheattack.
Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum had told reporters at a press conference held at theMinistryofHomeAffairs that Peodomo and his accomplice have some affiliation with a “gang in Venezuela known as ‘R’” which is linked to the
Sindicato gang The Sindicato gang has been linked to several violent cross-bordercrimes.
The crime chief said investigatorslearnedthatthe explosive device was activated moments after the mainsuspectexitedacarand walked into the Mobil Gas Station at Regent and King Streets, Georgetown The powerful blast killed little Soraya Bourne and injured four others, including children and adults Investigators have not disclosed the motive behind theattackandwhetheritwas linked to organised transnational criminal activity
C l o s e d - C i r c u i t Television (CCTV) showed
the suspect, clad in a blue jersey, what appeared to be black trousers and a khaki hat, entering the gas station and first attempting to place a bulky black bag in a bin locatedatapumpstation.An attendant, who was seated there, forbade him from placing the bag in the bin.
Themanthenventuredtothe areaofthefuelstationwhere itisreportedthatcookinggas wasstored.Shortlyafter,the car in which little Bourne and her family traveled in was seen slowly reversing before the bomb exploded causing the girl and her relatives to be pitched into theair
OnMay18thisyear,two loud explosions sent shockwaves across the
The pickup truck and motorcycle involved in the fatal accident
communities in the vicinity ofEastRuimveldtduringthe weehoursofthemorning.
Both explosions occurred at approximately 40 minutes after midnight –one at the East Ruimveldt Police Outpost, which blew thebackgateandthesecond at the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Substation located at Mandela Avenue, not too far away from the policeoutpost.
Security cameras mounted on buildings close to the police outpost at Vlissengen Square and East Front Road captured the momentthegateatthepolice outpostwasblownoff.
“A loud explosion originatingfromthe
Continued on page 17
Young father killed in Lethem collision
A 22-year-old biker died on Thursday after he was struck by a pickup truck at Barrack Retreat Corridor, Lethem, Region Nine.
ThedeceasedhasbeenidentifiedasBarth Paul, a young husband and father, of St. IgnatiusVillage.Heworkedasaporteratthe LethemRegionalHospital.
Accordingtoapolicereport,theaccident occurred around 13:00 hrs. and involved Paul’s Brazil-registered motorcycle, PYP 7J16, and a Brazil-registered pickup, OAA 8G45, driven by a 46-year-old Brazilian nationalofCentralLethem.
Preliminary police investigations revealed that Paul was travelling west along the southern carriageway, while the pickup washeadingnorthonthewesternsideofthe roadway At the junction where their paths intersected,thetwovehiclescollided.Police stated,“asaresult,themotorcyclistfellonto theroadwayandsustainedinjuriestohishead andabouthisbody.”
Emergency Medical Technicians respondedandtransportedPaultotheLethem RegionalHospital,wherehewaspronounced dead on arrival. His body was subsequently taken to the hospital’s mortuary, where it awaits a post-mortem examination. The driverofthepickupiscurrentlyincustodyas investigationscontinue.
Meanwhile, the community of Lethem, alongwithPaul’sfriendsandfamily,hasbeen plunged into mourning. Having recently
uponhearingthenews:
“He was very kind, willing, and humble. When I heard about his death, waves of disbeliefhitmebecauseIhadonlyspokento him the day before. I saw one of my colleagues’statussayingRIPanditwashim.I felt shocked. I couldn’t believe it—I cried right away I feel so hurt and I still can’t believe it up to this time,” she told Kaieteur News.
celebrated his birthday on October 10, the youngmanleavesbehindhispartnerandtheir son. Hisfriendandcolleague,SimonNaume, described him as a humble and generous individual. She recalled feeling devastated
Dead: Barth Paul
Barth Paul with his family during happier times
Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken
Linden woman faces manslaughter charge, on $600,000 bail for boyfriend's death
A 28-year-old woman was on Friday charged with manslaughter and placed on $600,000 bail for the fatal stabbing of her boyfriend, Kevin Alexander on N o v e m b e r 1 0
The accused, Oyanna StewartofLot158Block22, Wismar Linden made her first court appearance at the Linden Magistrate's Court before Magistrate Rushelle Liverpool, where the charge w a s r e a d t o h e r Stewartwasnotrequired
OP: ED
to plead to the indictable charge.Shewasgrantedbail and is expected to reappear in court on December 18, 2 0 2 5
TheGuyanaPoliceForce in a statement reported that the incident occurred about 21:45 hrs. on Monday at Block 22, Wismar
Charged: Oyanna Stewart
Let'smovewith urgencytotacklethisdisease
B y D r . K a r e n
Cummings November 14, marks WorldDiabetesDay.Itisan occasion to bring awareness tothepopulaceofthissilent epidemic with a heavy disease burden Diabetes Mellitus is not declining in Latin America and the Caribbean but remains a critical public health concern.
According to the International Diabetes Federation (2025), 590 million people worldwide have diabetes, 11 percent of theadultpopulationages20 to79livewithdiabetes,and 40 percent of people are unaware that they have the condition.
Diabetes occurs when thereisabuildupofglucose
i n t h e b l o o d (hyperglycemia)owingtoan absolute or relative lack of thehormoneinsulinwhichis producedinthepancreas.In otherwords,thebodycannot usefoodinthecorrectway.
The major types of diabetes are: - a) Insulin dependent or childhood diabetes- or Juvenile Onset Diabetes- Type 1 b) AdultOnsetDiabetes-Type2;and c) Gestational Diabetes
which occurs during pregnancy but can progress to Type 2 diabetes if left unchecked. Type 2 is the most common type of diabetes.
The common symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes are
e x c e s s i v e t h i r s t (Polydipsia), frequent
urination (Polyuria),
e x c e s s i v e e a t i n g (Polyphagia), and infrequently loss of pounds. Progression of this disease could lead to complications in the small blood vessels, arterioles, capillaries, we say-the microcirculationincluding the kidney (nephropathy), in the eyes (retinopathy), the nerves could be affected alsodiabetic neuropathy- and which could later cause a person to have an
amputationofalimb).
Thelargearteriescanbe equallyaffected–suchasthe heart, the brain, and the peripheral arteries hence a person could have a heart attack, a stroke and peripheralvasculardisease.
The theme for World Diabetes 2025 is “Diabetes Across Life Stages”. It is incumbent on healthcare workers, urban and food system planners, and educationadvocatestowork together to improve the diagnosis of diabetes by increasing screening coverage and to prevent diabetic complications amongthepopulace.
There must be timely support and integrated care, coupled with the promotion of self- management to c u r t a i l t h i s n o ncommunicabledisease.
Andtothosepeoplewho are living with the disease, monitor your blood glucose levels with the glucometer, take regular check-ups, engage in stress reduction activities and physical activity at least thrice weeklyfor30minutes,have a balanced diet, and make everyefforttoreduce(ifyou areunabletoavoid)tobacco andalcoholuse.
On this World Diabetes Day, I have called on the Ministry of Health to improve diagnosis, prevent complications, to make diabeticmedicinesavailable and accessible, and avoid stock-outs, strengthen primary health care, and have a workableaccelerated plan to stop obesity especially in childhood.There must be an intergenerational approach and the involvement of a multidisciplinary team which includes Doctors, Nurses, Community Health Workers, Nutritionists, and other relevant stakeholders to stem the tide of this chronicdisease.
Let us move with urgency to tackle this disease.
P r e l i m i n a r y investigations revealed that Alexander, a carpenter and his 28-year-old girlfriend, were involved in an argument during which the suspect allegedly stabbed him once in the left of his a b d o m e n Police stated that an
injured Alexander was assisted by relatives and residents and taken to the Linden Hospital Complex where he was pronounced dead on arrival by a doctor
The woman was subsequently arrested and placed in custody, while investigations opened
Deceased, KevinAlexander
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‘Guyanese Critic’ ordered to pay Mohameds
$22 M judgment for defamation
The Full Court has affirmed a ruling which outlined that social media commentator, Mikhail Rodrigues known as the ‘Guyanese Critic’ is liable to pay Nazar and Azruddin Mohamed $22.5 million for defamation. The judgment was handed by Justices Fidela Corbin-Lincoln and Nicola Pierre, on Friday. Rodrigues had sought to appeal a default decision that was granted by high court Justice Nigel Niles last year. The social media commentator failed to enter an appearance or file a defence in the
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defamation suit. In his bid to appeal, Rodrigues contended that the trial judge erred in law and misapplied the relevant legal principles in relation to the setting aside of a default judgment. He argued that the trial judge erred in law and failed to apply the proper legal principles.
“The trial judge erred in law and placed an unbalanced emphasis on the procedural rules without adequately considering or applying the relevant principles as it relates to the overriding objective of determining cases fairly and on the merits.” Rodrigues claimed in documents filed by his lawyers.
But the Full Court found that Justice Niles had correctly applied the law.
“Having considered the decision of the learned trial judge, the grounds of appeal and the submissions I find that the appeal should be dis-
missed since the learned trial judge did not err in refusing to set aside the judgment in default. The learned trial judge considered and correctly applied the criteria set out in CPR12.03 with respect to setting aside a judgment in default. Specifically, I do not find that the learned trial judge erred in his finding that the explanation provided for failing to file the defence was not reasonable and, more im-
portantly in my view, that the defence as set out in the draft defence had no real prospect of success,” the full court said
The court found too “there is no basis upon which the court ought to disturb the learned trial judge’s exercise of his discretion not to set aside the default judgement since he did not make a mistake of law.”
They also found that the criteria to award costs and the default judgment regime were properly applied as the trial Judge gave a written ruling explaining the reasons for his refusal to set aside the defence. According to the full court, Justice Niles had considered as required by r13.03(3)(a) whether the explanation given for failure to file a defence was reasonable, and ruled that no reasonable explanation was given for the failure to file a defence.
UN rights council adopts fact-finding mission in emergency session on Sudan
(Reuters) - Members of the U.N. Human Rights Council on Friday adopted a resolution for an independent factfinding mission to investigate reported mass killings in alFashir, Sudan.
At a special session of the Council in Geneva on the situation in the city in Darfur which fell to paramilitary forces in October, the text passed without a vote - a strong sign of international support.
The fact-finding mission will also seek to identify the perpetrators of violations allegedly committed by the Rapid Support Forces and their allies in al-Fashir.
The ambassador of the permanent mission of the United Kingdom in Geneva said the fact-finding mission would document and preserve evidence of violations, which would lay the ground for future justice and accountability.
In an opening address to delegates, the U.N. human rights chief urged the international community to act.
“There has been too much
pretence and performance, and too little action. It must stand up against these atrocities – a display of naked cruelty used to subjugate and control an entire population,” U.N. High Commissioner for human rights Volker Turk said.
The RSF has denied targeting civilians or blocking aid, saying such activities are due to rogue actors.
UN RIGHTS CHIEF WARNS OF SURGING VIOLENCE IN KORDOFAN
Turk also called for action against individuals and companies “fuelling and profiting” from the war in Sudan, and gave a stark warning about surging violence in the central Sudanese region of Kordofan, with bombardments, blockades and people forced from their homes.
Kordofan is a region comprised of three states that serves as a buffer between the RSF’s western Darfur strongholds and the armyheld states in the east.
The fall of al-Fashir to the RSF on October 26 cemented its control of the Darfur region in the more than 2-1/2-
year civil war with the Sudanese army.
The draft text up for consideration by the council, seen by Reuters, strongly condemns the reported ethnically motivated killing and use of rape as a weapon of war by the RSF and allied forces in al-Fashir.
Mona Rishmawi, a member of the U.N.’s Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan described examples of rape, killing and torture and said a comprehensive investigation is required to establish the full picture.
She said RSF forces had “turned Al Fasher University into a killing ground” where thousands of civilians had been sheltering.
Witnesses also recounted seeing bodies piling in the streets and trenches dug in and around the city, Rishmawi said.
.
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“We were warning all over the U.N....calling for pressure on the rebel militia and the country that is sponsoring it with military equipment - I mean the UAE,” Hassan Hamid Hassan said.
UAE VIGOROUSLY DENIES SUPPORT FOR RSF
Sudan’s army has accused the United Arab Emirates of supplying the RSF with weapons, a claim which U.N. experts and U.S. lawmakers have found credible.
The UAE ambassador to the U.N. in Geneva Jamal Al Musharakh on Thursday categorically rejected claims that it provides support in any form to either of the warring parties.
The proposed resolution stops short of mandating an investigation into the role of external actors who may be supporting the RSF, which the ambassador to the permanent mission of Sudan in Geneva criticised, saying that his country faced an “existential war” following the international community’s failure to act.
The United Kingdom, the European Union, Norway and Ghana expressed support for the resolution, strongly condemning the violence in Sudan, which they warned could threaten regional stability.
The resolution also calls for the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces to allow lifesaving aid to reach the many people who may still be trapped inside the faminestruck city.
Women fleeing the city have reported killings and systematic rape while others have described civilians being shot in the streets and attacked in drone strikes.
Mikhail “Guyanese Critic” Rodrigues
Domestic violence murders doubled for 2025
Crime Chief Wendell
Blanhum on Friday disclosed that murders related to domestic violence have doubled this year comparedto2024.
Inhiscrimepresentation so far for this year, he revealed that 81 per cent of the murder victims were maleswhile19percentwere females. However, over the lastfiveyears,therehasbeen a decline in serious crimes, disorderly murders account forthehighestpercentagein murders.
According to Blanhum these, “have the highest distribution when compared with other categories, domestic borders doubled for this period when compared with the previous year Thatisfrom13in2024 to26in2025duringtheyear 2025.”
The crime chief said the highest percentage of murders were recorded in
- Crime Chief
Region4Aandthistranslates to24murders,whileRegion Two recorded the lowest percentagetodatefor2025.
On September 8, this publication reported that FromJanuarytolateAugust 13,womenlosttheirlivesin domesticviolentencounters.
In January, 16-year-old Janelly David was beaten to deathandleftinahammock in Region 1 by her partner EonMoore.Alsointhesame month, 34-year-old Bibi Fazila Ally (34) was killed by her ex-partner Bidraj Ganesh.Herbodywasleftin a pool of blood and was discovered by her eightyear-oldson.
allegedlyintoxicatedattheir Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara home. Also, in the same month Shameeza Mohamed was brutally beaten by her sonin-law Parsuram Arjune subsequentlysuccumbingto herinjuries.
The month of April saw five women losing their lives: Mezona Ronaldo was set on fire by her partner
Gasstationbombingnotconnected...
Frompage14 southern side of the outpost rocked the compound,” police said in a statement, before adding that “a police rank (identified as a female) on duty at the time heard two distinctblasts,followedbydebrisimpacting nearbyrooftops.”
The female rank was not injured. She stepped outside to see what had happened and observed that the southern wall of the outpost's concrete fence had been significantlydamaged.
An alarm was raised, and other ranks of theGPFsubsequentlyarrivedandfoundout that the outpost's metal gate, located on the southernside,wascompletelyblownaway
“ And other parts of the outpost sustainedstructuraldamage,”policesaid.
Meanwhile, police said that the GPL Substation along MandelaAvenue was also damaged.
“The second site under investigation is the GPLSubstation along MandelaAvenue, which also experienced suspicious damage aroundthesametimeframe,”Policestated.
An investigation was launched. Early Saturday, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum told Kaieteur News that an “improvised explosive device” might have been behind the blast at the East Ruimveldt Police Outpost.“Policehaverecoveredaquantityof bolts and nuts, along with debris of a shattered hard plastic container from the scene – (debris suspected to be components of the improvised explosive device),” the CrimeChiefsaid.
subsequently succumbed to her injuries. Reports from family members revealed thathehadcutherhairoffa fewweeksbefore.
Also, inApril Maline La Cruz, her sister Sueann La Cruz and her mother, Waveney La Cruz lost their livesatthehandsofMaline's ex-partner Parmanand Ramdehol, when he shot them at their Waiakabra Village, Soesdyke – Linden Highway home. In the same month,30-year-oldMarissa Beete was shot by her exboyfriend Ghalee Khan, a convicteddrugtrafficker
In July, Jenel Pollydore, 26 was shot dead at a weddingbythefatherofher child. In August, Teekadai
Solomonwasshotatleast10 times by her husband Alroy Solomon who then turned the weapon on himself ending his life. He also shot their son during the ordeal. In the same month, 45-yearold Bibi Shazida Hanif was stabbed to death by her exhusbandMartinTrue.
Recently two men lost their lives in domestic disputes A 30-year-old carpenter, identified as Kevin Alexander of Block 22, Wismar, Linden, was fatally stabbed during a violent domestic dispute with his 28-year-old girlfriendattheirhome.
Police said the incident occurred around 9:45 p.m., after an argument between the couple reportedly escalated During the confrontation, the woman allegedlystabbedAlexander once in the left of his abdomen.
The injured man was assisted by relatives and public-spirited citizens and takentotheLindenHospital Complex where he was pronounced dead on arrival by a doctor on duty The suspect was subsequently arrested and placed in custody The body of
Alexanderispresentlyatthe Gjetsco Funeral Parlour awaiting a post-mortem examination.
Also, a domestic dispute turned deadly at Lot 890 B Field, Sophia, leaving 25year-oldAkeemEvansdead, allegedly at the hands of his 23-year-old reputed wife, Jenoria“Heaven”Browne.
According to police reports,themurderoccurred around18:10hrsatthelower flat of a two-storey house owned by Evans' parents. Evans,alabourer,reportedly hadongoingargumentswith Browne, stemming from suspicions that she was involved with other men, said his sister, Mellissa Stuart.
Eyewitness Renetta Blake recounted that Evans ranoutfromthefamilyyard bleeding from a stab wound to his left chest, telling her that Browne had attacked him.Brownereportedlyfled thescene,crying.
A taxi driver later transported both Evans and Browne to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where Evanswaspronounceddead onarrival.Browneallegedly l e f t t h e h o s p i t a l immediately
Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum
Aid still a drop in the bucket for Gaza - as harsh rains, bitter winter close in
(AL-JAZEERA) - The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has accused Israel of deliberately crippling its operations and blocking the entry of vital aid to Gaza amid its more thantwo-yeargenocidalwar, asPalestiniansfacetheonset of heavy rains and winter withsparseshelterorrelief.
“ S a f e g u a r d i n g UNRWA’s mandate and operations is required under internationallaw;itisvitalto
the survival of millions of Palestinians; and it is essential for a political solution, ” UNRWA
Commissioner-General
Philippe Lazzarini told the UN General Assembly Fourth Committee on Thursday, citing recent findings by the UN Commission of Inquiry and rulings by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) obligating Israel to lift restrictionsontheagency
Lazzarini also told a
news conference at the UN headquarters in New York thatseverefundingshortfalls were threatening UNRWA’s essential services, urging donor nations for more money, so that it could continue its operations in Gazadespitefundingcutsby theUnitedStates.
“We run week by week, monthbymonth.Iknowthat asoftoday,wewillbeableto process our salaries in November, but have no idea ifornovisibilityifwewillbe
Israel has barred UNRWA from operating on its soil after baselessly accusing some of its employees of participating in the October 7, 2023
Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, which triggeredthewar
Israel has repeatedly accusedUNRWAemployees of involvement in the October 7 attack without providingproof.
Following those allegations, the US –historically the agency’s biggest donor – suspended itssupport.
In the wake of Israel’s decision, UNRWA was forced to repatriate its internationalstafffromGaza andtheoccupiedWestBank, limiting its food aid distributionabilities.
But it still employs 12,000 people in the Palestinian territory, and its services are vital to Palestinians, Lazzarini insisted.
“About 75,000 people were sheltered in 100 of our premises across the Gaza Strip,”hesaid.
“We have, over the last two years, provided more than 15 million primary health consultations. Today, theaverageisabout14,000a day,” he added, also noting the agency’s joint vaccination campaign with UNICEF and the World
Health Organization UNRWA also provides education for tens of thousandsofchildren.
“In the absence of a
significant influx of new funding, the delivery of critical services to millions of Palestinian refugees across the region will be compromised,” Lazzarini added.
While US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has saidUNRWAwillhaveno role in post-war Gaza, in sync with Israeli demands, Lazzarini noted
that since the US-
brokered ceasefire between Israel andHamas took hold, “we have expandedourservices”.
‘Terrifying nightmare foralotoffamilies’
Under the ceasefire, which took effect on October 10, and which Israel has violated hundreds of times, aid deliveries were supposed
to be significantly ramped up, with at least 600 trucks a day due to enter Gaza to fulfil the population’sneeds.
H o w e v e r , o n l y “around 150 trucks” have been entering Gaza daily, carrying supplies that are not sufficient for the “two million Palestinians that are currently displaced and homeless”, said Al Jazeera’s Hind Khoudary, reporting from Deir elBalah,incentralGaza.
“There are a lot of Palestinian families who have said that there are no tarps, no tents, and they didn’t receive any humanitarian aid” , despite the arrival of the a i d t r u c k s , s a i d Khoudary
The lack of supplies,
coupled with the onset of winter, is a “terrifying nightmare for a lot of families and especially for those who are living in makeshift camps”, said Khoudary
The lack of supplies has prompted the UN to warn that the hunger crisis in Gaza remains catastrophic, particularly in the north, where famine was declared in August, due to the slow and difficult route aid convoys face from the south.
Trucks carrying humanitarian aid and commercial cargo resumed passage through the northern Zikim border crossing earlier this week
Israel had closed the crossing, the main entry point into the hard-hit northern Gaza Strip, for two months, with its reopening welcomed by Palestinians and UN aid agencies
Palestinian truck driver Abdulkarim Abu Daqqa said on Thursday that they had loaded approximately 80 trucks and hoped that the crossings would continue the following day to a l l e v i a t e G a z a ’ s humanitariancrisis
A spokesperson for COGAT, the Israeli Defence Ministry body that oversees civilian affairs in the occupied Palestinian territory, told the AFP news agency that the crossing would remain open permanently
Young Palestinian girls play in a new displacement camp set up by the Egyptian Committee in Nuseirat, Gaza Strip, on November 11, 2025 [Eyad Baba/AFP]
The truck involved in the accident with the deceased's bicycle under the vehicle.
Cyclist in Vlissengen road smashup identified as Prashad Nagar pensioner - truckerincustody
The cyclist who tragically lost his life on Thursday afternoon when he collided withatruckattheintersection of Lamaha Street and V l i s s e n g e n R o a d , Georgetown, has been identified,andthetruckdriver isnowincustody
According to a police report issued on Friday, the deceased has been identified as69-year-oldLennoxGeorge Benjamin of Prashad Nagar, Georgetown.Thedriverofthe motorlorry,GAH5884,a33year-old man from Long Creek, Soesdyke-Linden Highway, was arrested followingtheincident.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the truck had beenstationaryinthesouthern drivinglaneonLamahaStreet, facingwest,duetoaredtraffic light Benjamin, who was ridingwestalongthesouthern side of Lamaha Street, was proceeding on the left side of the lorry “The traffic signal changedtogreenandthelorry movedoffandcontinuedwest into the intersection before making a turn south onto Vlissengen Road, during which the collision occurred, theleftrearportionofthelorry
thecyclistwhofellontothe road surface, sustaining injuries about his body,” policesaid.
Emergency medical personnel responded and Benjamin was pronounced deadonthespot.
A c c o r d i n g t o eyewitnesses, the truck had been waiting at the traffic light. When the light turned green, the driver proceeded, reportedly unaware that the cyclist was crossing his path.
The truck struck the cyclist, dragging his bicycle beneath thevehicle.
One witness explained, “The truck driver didn't see him;whenthelightsaysgothe truck man done come across and he turn same time so he think the road clear but when she screamed he panicked. The man done turn with the bicycle,”shesaid.
Atthegruesomescene,the man's organs, were scattered across the area. The man's bicycle was seen crumpled
underneath the truck Emergencyrespondersarrived promptly, but the man had alreadydied.
Investigations are ongoing.
Promising Berbice offshore...
Frompage7 othersiblingsalive.“Thefactthatpeoplejustsharing,making videos, at the time you wouldn't even think about taking out yourphone,butthatisthesocietythesedays.”
Prior to the incident, the young man was picking green mangoeswithhisfriends,afterwhichheoptedtomakeafew spins with his motorcycle. Earlier that day around lunchtime, hehadvisitedhissister'sworkplacetoborrowhercar,butshe didnotagree.Lateronintheafternoon,hevisitedthehomeof friend a few streets away from his home, then proceeded to New Amsterdam. On his way to the town, the tragedy took placeatabout4:30,thepoliceconfirmed. HisbodyiscurrentlyatthePersaud'sFuneralHomeinNew Amsterdam.
hit
FIFA World Cup 26™ Qualifiers… Croatia, Netherlands and Germany qualify
(BBC Sport) - Croatia booked their place at the 2026 World Cup with a comeback win over the Faroe Islands, whose slim hopes of qualification are over The minnows took the leadinRijekawhenGrimsby
Town’s Geza David Turi droveforwardandhadashot deflectedin.
But Josko Gvardiol drilled a Croatia leveller seven minutes later into the bottomcorner
Petar Musa then put Croatia ahead from eight
yards out in his first internationalsince2023. AndNikolaVlasicmade the win safe from Ivan Perisic’scross.
Croatia are now six points above second-placed the Czech Republic going intoMonday’sfinalgames.
Saturday November 15, 2025
ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)
You'll find that things are slipping nicely into place for you today, Aries Your persuasivemannerandgentle nudges are just enough to get peoplewhereyouwantthem.
TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)
When faced with ten entrees onthemenu,itmightbehard for you to choose just one. Feelfreetoordertwoormore, Ta u r u s D o n ' t l e t indecisiveness slow you down.Atthesametime.
GEMINI(May21–June20)
Your dreams won't come true unless you believe in and act onthem,Gemini.Nooneelse is going to do it for you. Unless you have a fairy godmother, you need to take mattersintoyourownhands.
CANCER(June21–July22)
If people hassle you or give you a hard time about your appearance today, pay them nomind,Cancer Youhavethe righttoliveyourlifeanyway youwantto.
LEO(July23–Aug.22)
Reachforthepotofgoldatthe end of the rainbow, Leo. It's closerthanyouthink.Indeed, your dreams are completely within your reach, and there are huge forces at work helping you achieve your goals.
VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22)
Today is your day to dream and dream big, Virgo. Think aboutwhatitisthatyouwant most out of life. Aim your arrow to the stars and pull back your bow as far as possible. There's no limit to howfaryoucango.
LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)
Expand your mind to its furthest reaches today, Libra.
opportunity opening up for you in which you can make great strides in a creative realm.Followthemusic.
SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov 21)
Your mind may seem rather cloudy today, Scorpio, but don't let this hinder you. In fact, you'll find that you can use this feeling of fantasy to your advantage. Try to bring moremagicintoyourlife.
SAGIT(Nov 22–Dec.21)
Today is an excellent day for you,oneinwhichyou'llfinda great deal of strength in your emotions, Sagittarius Trust that your instincts are serving youwell.
CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)
Things might get a bit confusing for you today, Capricorn. Don't feel like you needtomakesenseofitall.In fact, this task may be impossible. Just be yourself. Let your creative nature shine through.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18)Mixyourrealitywithabit of fantasy today, Aquarius. Allowyourfeettocomeoffthe ground for a little while. Give yourselfarest.Takesometime to meditate and clear your mindofyourdailyworries.
PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)
Let yourself go into high creative mode and drift into a whole other world, Pisces. Escape your present reality and explore your fantasies through any sort of artistic endeavor Dreamasbigasyour mindallows.
The Czechs are
guaranteed a play-off spot now, as the Faroe Islandsonepointbehindthem-have finishedtheirmatches.
Even if the Faroes had beaten Croatia, they would have been relying on the Czechs not to beat Gibraltar athome.
Depay goal takes Netherlands to brink of WorldCup
TheNetherlandsasgood as booked their place at the 2026WorldCupwithadraw againstPolandinWarsaw
Theyremainthreepoints abovethePolesatthetopof Group G, with a stronger goal difference by 13 goals, going into Monday’s final fixtures.
Poland, who are guaranteed a play-off place at least, took the lead when RobertLewandowskiplayed in Jakub Kaminski, who slotted through Bart Verbruggen’slegs.
But Ronald Koeman’s side were level early in the second half when Donyell Malen’s header was saved and the nation’s record scorer Memphis Depay scoredfromtherebound.
Thatwasthe31-year-old Corinthiansforward’seighth goal of these World Cup qualifiers, only behind Norway’s Erling Haaland with14.
The Netherlands just need a point at home to Lithuania to be sure of qualification, but even if theylosePolandwouldneed to win in Malta with a goal differenceswingof13goals.
Newcastle striker Nick Woltemade scored twice as Germany beat Luxembourg in qualifying for the 2026 WorldCup.
After a frustrating first half in which they could not
breaktheiropponentsdown, Germanyopenedthescoring four minutes after half time whenWoltemade stabbed in LeroySane’scross.
The23-year-oldthengot his and Germany’s second with just over 20 minutes remaining when he swept in from Ridle Baku’s incisive pass.
Liverpool’s Florian Wirtz saw an effort blocked lateonasGermanylookedto addmoregoals.
ThewinmeansGermany
are top of Group A, above Slovakiaongoaldifference. Both sides are certain of a top-two finish but t h e a u t o m a t i c qualification position remains all to play for and the two sides will meet intheirfinalqualifyinggame in Germany on Monday, 17 November T
o r Woltemade, meanwhile, continued his good form after scoring six goals in his first season at
Croatia reached the 2018 World Cup final and the 2022 semi-finals (Getty Images)
2026 Ivan Madray T20 Memorial 1st Division Competition continues today
Two matches are slated to be played when the Ivan Madray T20 Memorial 1st division knockout cricket Competition continues on SaturdayinBerbicewithtwo matches.
The competition, which is organised by the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB), will see Berbice River Cricket Association(BRCA)takeon PoliceattheYoungWarriors GroundinCumberland,East Canjeat12:30hrs.
The other game will be b e t w e e n S k e l d o n Community Centre and Blairmont Community CentreatSkeldon,willbegin at12:30hrs.
Meanwhile, one match was played last weekend when the tournament commenced. In that game, Upper Corentyne Cricket Association(UCCA)gotthe better of West Berbice Cricket Association (WBCA).
The WBCA batted first andwasdismissedfor100in 18.3 overs with Brian Nurse (33),ShamarAngel(30)and NikelFraser(27)beingtheir maincontributors.
Bowling for UCCA was Davenra Chatterpaul and Omesh Mathurah, who led with three wickets each, while Steven Embrack pickeduptwo.
In reply, UCCA reached 102 for 8 in 18.4 overs with Rishi Persaud (42), Torend Shivamber (20) and
Thameshwar Ramoutar (20*)topchartingtheway Bowling for WBCA, Andrew Dutchin snared three wickets while Shamar Angelgrabbedtwo.
The game between Rose Hall Community Centre (RHCC) and Port Mourant CC was called off due to inclementweather
The other teams in the competition are Albion Community Centre CC, Rose Hall Town Youth and SportsClub,TucberParkCC andYoungWarriorsCC.
TheTournamentisbeing sponsored by the Madray and Chintamani families in Memory of the Legendary Ivan Madray, who played two tests for theWest Indies in1958.
Madray,aproductofPort Mourant CC, was the third Berbician to play Test CricketfortheWestIndies.
The BCB, through its president Dr Cecil Beharry, recently received the sponsorship for the competition from Mr Chandradat Chintamani, nephew of the late Ivan Madray
Dr Beharry expressed profoundgratitudeonbehalf oftheBCB.MrChintamani, on behalf of his family that waspleasedtobeassociated withtheBCBonceagain.
Thecompetitionbeganin 2018 Albion CC is the defending champion (SamuelWhyte)
President of The Berbice Cricket Board Dr Cecil Beharry (right) received the sponsorship cheque from Mr Chandradat Chintamania
Babar breaks century drought to help Pakistan clinch series
(ESPNCricinfo)-Babar
Azam hit his first international century in more than two years, as Pakistan’s senior batters made light work of chasing down the target of 289. Sri Lanka’s middle order had draggedthetotalto288for8 after they’d lost early wickets But on a flat Rawalpinditrack,theynever looked like defending their score,particularlyaftertheir opening bowlers were wayward.Pakistangothome with 10 balls to spare, and eight wickets at their disposal. They have now wontheseries2-0,withone matchtoplay
Babar’s 102 not out off 119-his20thODIton-was not only significant for ending his international century drought (his last hundred had been in May 2023), but for equaling Saeed Anwar’s record for most ODI hundreds for Pakistan. He had two ultra productiveregions-through coverandmidwicket.
Thoseareasbroughthim 61ofhisruns,andsixofhis eight fours. He was never seriously tested in this innings,however Sri Lanka had played onebowlertoofew,andtheir seamers were having an off dayinanycase.Atnophase in the innings did the required rate threaten to get outofhand.
Though that century is the big news, all four of Pakistan’s top order batters played important innings.
SaimAyub set the chase off rapidly with his 33 off 25 balls, before Fakhar Zaman’s 78 off 93 helped consolidatethatstart.
Babar put on a 100-run stand with Zaman, before Mohammad Rizwan joined him at the crease for an unbeaten 112-run affair Rizwanfinishedwith52not outoff51balls.
Sri Lanka were poor in the first 20 overs of both innings. Having been put intobat,theywere90for3in the 20th over, before that scorelineworsenedto98for 4. Some spunk was shown by the likes of Sadeera Samarawickrama, Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, and Wanindu Hasaranga, who all made scores between 37 and 54LiyanagetheonlySriLanka batter to make a halfcentury. Although
Babar Azam broke his century drought (Associated Press)
Hasaranga put in another excellent batting effort to elevate Sri Lanka’s death overs performance, 289 always seemed eminently gettable. It felt even more gettable when Sri Lanka’s opening bowlers were waywardwiththenewball.
Asitha Fernando went at 10anoverinthepowerplay
PramodMadushan-playing his first international in 18 months,conceded19runsin his first two overs. After eightovers,duringwhichSri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka went to a Plan B that also didn’t work out, Pakistanwere73fornoloss.
On the kind of cold evening in which Sri Lanka’s fielders tend not to do well, the catching was even worse than the b o w l i n g A s i t h a Fernando dropped Zaman on 21 in the seventh over - a simple chance at long off Two overs later, Zaman was dropped again at long off, this time by Liyanage, who had to make some ground to get there Zaman would be dropped again on 78, but wouldbedismissedthenext ball.
Babar too had a close call on 5, when he chipped one back to Madushan who couldn’t hold on in his followthrough.
He was slow to start with, making 12 off his first 22 balls. But when he drove Madushan crisply down the ground for four in the 16th over, he began to find his rhythm, particularly against
theseambowlers.Witheven the experienced pairing of Dushmantha Chameera and Asitha Fernando struggling to bowl consistent lines, Pakistan’s batters found theirprogressfairlysmooth.
Sri Lanka’s top
wicket-take
T
H a s a r a n
a l s o appeared to be struggling with a back complaint, and exited the field at least twice to receive treatment Wit
the seamers leaking so many runs, Pakistan’s batters
could afford to see Hasarangaoffsafely
There were points in Z a m a n ’s i n n i n g s , parti
crossed 50, when he s
nd boundaries But even w h e n S r i L a n k a squeezed, they could never do so for long Babar and Rizwan’s progress to the target was almost frictionless in the last15oversofthegame
Earlier in the game, it had been legspinner Abrar Ahmed who imposed himself.SriLanka’sopeners had begun brightly but lost Pathum Nissanka to a heedless third run, before Abrar had Kamil Mishara stumped.
He also had Kusal Mendis pull him straight to short midwicket, and soon after trapped Asalanka in front of the stumps. He was Pakistan’s best bowler, with 3 for 41. Haris Rauf also finished with three wickets, taking two of those at the death.
Ex-world champion Parker fails drugs test for cocaine
Joseph Parker has 36 wins from his 40 professional fights (PAMedia)
(BBC Sport) - Former w
champion Joseph Parker is facing a possible ban from boxing after testing positive forcocaine.The33-year-old New Zealander failed a drugs test on the day of his fightwithFabioWardleyon 26October Hewastestedby the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (Vada) on 25 October
Sources have confirmed to BBC Sport Parker tested positive for the recreational drug and not performance enhancing drugs His promoter, Queensberry Promotions said:, external “Joseph Parker returned an adversefindinginrelationto hisboutwithFabioWardley
“While the matter is investigated further, no additional comment will be made.”
Parker could receive a two-year ban but could also be suspended for as little as three months depending on circumstances. Any ban would be handed down by UKAnti-Doping(Ukad)and the British Boxing Board of
Control (BBBC) Ukad, however, did not administer this test and will need to c o n d u c t i t s o w n investigation. The BBC has contacted Vada and the BBBCforcomment.
Parker’s UK manager Spencer Brown told Reuters: “We are in total shockatthefindings.
“Itisveryearlydaysand wewillgettothebottomofit all.” Boxer Liam Cameron wasgivenafour-yearbanin 2019 for testing positive for benzoylecgonine, a metabolic acid of cocaine, butruleshavechangedsince then with rugby league playerAdamRuslinggetting a three-month ban in 2024 for testing positive for cocaineandMDMA.
Parkerwashopingtoput himself in position for a fight against undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk, but was upset by Briton WardleyattheO2Arena.
Parker was heavyweight championbetween2016and 2018, with his reign ended byBritain’sAnthonyJoshua inCardiff.
Kwesi
Mathew Potaya, Delroy Osborne, Rashad Gaffur, Adrian Hetmyer, Leon Swamy, Rishi Persaud,
Tameshwar Ramoutar, Ayinde Rogers and Nigel Deodat
Roger Harper
CWI, Republic Bank Five for Fun Festivals finale to be hosted today at Bourda
The program is geared towards introducing the game of cricket to youngsters, primarily aged between years 8-12
Cricket West Indies(CWI)and Republic Bank will be hosting the National FestivalsFinalsandClosing Ceremony of the 2025 Five for Fun Cricket program for Guyana today, November 15, at the Bourda Cricket Ground.
Theprogram,whichwas launched a few years across afewWestIndiesterritories, is geared towards introducing the game of cricket to youngsters, primarily aged between years8-12.
Students follow a module which is set to encourage and train youths, boys and girls, in the fundamentalsofthegame. Teamwork, batting,
Harpy Eagles wrap up final training session ahead of CG United Super50 tournament
TheGuyanaHarpy Eagles held their final training session on home turf before they head to Trinidad and Tobago for the Regional Super50, which runs from November19-29.
Following a successful Inter-County, players were drafted from the respective countiestotheEaglessquad
w h o i m m e d i a t e l y
c o m m e n c e d t h e i r preparatorycamp.
The squad linked up on Thursday at the Everest Ground, to complete their final session under the eyes of their coaching staff includingRyanHerculesand GarvinNedd.
Sessions included some toughpracticesimulationsin the nets as batsmen and bowlersalikehittheirstraps as they sought to fine-tune any further kinks ahead of next week’s start to the 2025/26 Super50 Cup; wherethereigningRegional 4-Day champs will look to breakatwodecadecurseby capturing the elusive 50Overtitle.
Selectors have opted for a mixed squad, which features some of Guyana’s brightest stars as well as a
Guyana’s captain, Matthew Nandu, during a training session.
fewnotablenameswhohave been cementing their place intheteamovertheprevious seasons. With Round 1 bowling
off next Wednesday November 19, the Harpy Eagles will wing out tomorrow (Sunday), as they preparetobattletheJamaica Scorpions in the opening bout at the Queen’s Park Oval,TrinidadandTobago Harpy Eagles’ first match is Wednesday (November 19) against
Jamaica Scorpions at the Queen’s Park Oval from 09:00h.
Guyana Harpy Eagles : Matthew Nandu (Captain), Raymond Perez, Kevlon
bowling, fielding as well as the mental approach to the game encompasses the core of the program, which is taught via a simplified yet fast-pacedmethod.
Games are played between a 5-player team as youngsters are given a professional leap from an early stage, thanks to the personal growth and confidence which are key factors in creating a professionalcricketer
As such, Guyana will recognise its step amongst the other nations by recognizingitswealthinthe youthfraternityofcricketby hosting today’s ceremony whichisexpectedtobewellattended when proceedings commencefrom9:00h.
Action between Jamaica and The Bahamas at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
strengthened their status as the team to beat at the FIBAWomen’s Caribbean Championship, rolling to an emphatic 84–33 victory over Suriname on Friday night at the CliffAndersonSportsHall.
The result keeps them as the only undefeated team in the tournament, firmly positioned atop thestandingswithaperfectrecord.
The Virgin Islands wasted no
time taking control, opening the game with a commanding 25–4 first quarter before adding 28 more pointsinthesecondperiod.
Taylor Jones led the way with a game-high 18 points, shooting 5of-9 from the field and knocking downthreethree-pointers.
She received strong support from Natalie Kleemann-Day with 13pointsandJ-NayaEphraimwith 14, while centre Anisha George
continued her reliable play, finishing with 11 points on 80% shooting.
Suriname’s Chiniqua Pengel scored 12 points to lead her team, whileBeyonceJedinieandMirelva Marica added five and four respectively
A 21–8 closing quarter sealed the victory for the Virgin Islands, who remain on a clear path toward oneofthecovetedspotsatthe2026
The Virgin Islands stays perfect in the FIBA Women’s Caribbean Championship with back-to-back wins.
CentroBasket.
Meanwhile, the Bahamas delivered a powerful performance of their own, cruising to an 88–56 win over Jamaica to solidify their positioninthetournament.
The victory boosts the Bahamas’chances of advancing to the 2026 CentroBasket, while Jamaicafacesatougherroadahead as they look to regroup for their remaininggroupfixtures.
As the FIBA Women’s Caribbe
p continues at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, teams are battling for position and momentum heading intothefinalroundofgames. The tournament continues today, with Guyana playing Suriname at 8:30 pm, but earlier in the day, Jamaica will look to bounce back against the Virgin Islands.
